Faster than a CLK430?

[MY05GT]

I've never driven a CLK430, but it's a pretty fast car. I raced one up an interstate on ramp the other day. I kept up with him easily (he was in front of me). I'm just wondering if I could have pulled away from him more easily had I more experience / time driving my 05. I think I'm still a little stiff with the clutch. Has anyone else had a chance to race a CLK430?

[shibby]

They have a 4.3 V8 but I don't think they have the bottom end torque you do. From a stop, you'll drag him.

[MRigney]

german junk...

You would walk his azz..

[MY05GT]

Cool...it was uphill starting in 2nd at about 2750 rpm (no torque, but too fast to downshift-so a really bad start) and ran through third. Once I hit 4100 rpm, my GT took off. Of course, some 20 mph idiot had to pull in front of me. The brakes are excellent, thankfully. I had no problem keeping up with him, even under those poor circumstances. I'd love to try it from a stop.

Is the clutch designed to handle some abuse, or should I be worried about dumping it once in a while?

BTW, some friends have asked why I haven't smoked the tires yet. I'd rather keep the tread on my tires for handling. Does it burn a lot of tread, or am I over reacting?

[nascaracing]

Provided you have the money to replace those pirelli's I would suggest keeiping it under control. I've ripped the rear tires a couple of times, in my 05, and let me tell you. You could most likely burn them down too the rims in just week if you really try.

[saulsse]

Save the tires for handling. Your wallet will thank you. To replace the OEM's with a comparible tire, you would be looking at about $190 minimum for starters per tire and dependent on brand and of course your wallet, upwards to $500 per tire for the extreamist.

Stephen from Atlanta

[dmwason]

I own both . I woulndt race myself in my CLK. Mustang is faster 0-60 Mustang is faster top speed. mustang is faster . !!!!!
I did do a comparison in another thread on the 05 and twisties.

You can buy 2 mustangs for 1 CLK. My CLK needed new tires before its first oil change. OK its at 12k but still . About 10 c ents per mile.

I have dropped the cluch several times on the GT. no ill effects. It does not like to be slipped at high PRM . Burning clucth does not smell good.
The GT will leave 2 black lines at least 45-60 feet . I have pictures.

[reddrako]

I just drove 160 miles to and from my home town to visit my parents. Needless to say that I raced all the way there and all the way back. I never lost, even against a FEW mad as hell mercedes owners. Oh, and by the way it handles 150mph nicely. Only scary thing is thinking about a blow-out at that speed. Ouch!

Every stoplight and every gas station I stopped at held offers of drag races. Damn, I knew I shoulda' bet cash!!

Have fun!

[shibby]

That's way cool! Give yourself a big pat on the back for endangering the lives of so many in your shameless street racing.
You should be proud!:rolleyes:

[reddrako]

You should know that this all took place on a open highway with very little traffic. Trust me, the last thing that I want to do is take out a bus full of church nuns. Anyways, everyone in here is guilty of a little street racing once in a while. Could you honestly say that you wouldn't see if the car could peg the needle at the top of the speedo on a 10 mile straight with only one other car on the road at the time and that car was behind you?

Many people see racing as a bad thing that takes lives and ruins families, well, that is true when done by an unexperienced driver in extreme conditions as well as done by a very experienced driver in normal situations. There are too many variables to say that nothing can or will happen. What most people dont recognize is that just by speeding on the highway they are endangering other drivers. It might not seem that way but doing 75 mph on the highway is very dangerous and deadly. What gets my pants in a bunch is when I'm doing 65 and abiding the rules and a Highway Patrol car goes by me at 75-80 mph and is doing nothing other than cruising down the road. Why is he/she going so fast? Is the officer in a pursuit? No. Is the officer en route to an emergency? No. He or she is merely doing their job by patrolling the roads, but at that speed? I have nothing but respect for law enforcement officers but it goes to show you that everybody is guilty of putting others in danger even the people paid to enforce the laws.

Dont get me wrong shibby this is not a knock at you. I respect the fact that you spoke up and said thanks for endangering others. Sometimes it takes someone to speak up and bring things to the attention of others. This is just merely something written for others to think about and interject. I thank everybody for their time in reading this incredibly long reply and encourage people to respond and not "bash" others.

Thank You.

[squeeeg]

Originally posted by reddrako
What gets my pants in a bunch is when I'm doing 65 and abiding the rules and a Highway Patrol car goes by me at 75-80 mph and is doing nothing other than cruising down the road. Why is he/she going so fast? Is the officer in a pursuit? No. Is the officer en route to an emergency? No. He or she is merely doing their job by patrolling the roads, but at that speed? I have nothing but respect for law enforcement officers but it goes to show you that everybody is guilty of putting others in danger even the people paid to enforce the laws.


Not saying that the police breaking the speed limit is any less wrong then anybody else doing it but keep in mind that they are trained in high speed driving and their cars are set up for to do it safely. This brings the risk factor way down. They are still wrong for doing it but it is safer for them to speed then anybody else on the road.

[shibby]

The reason I spoke up is because I just went to a memorial for someone I knew from another board who died last week losing control of his corvette. He hit a light pole and the car burst in to flames and he was trapped. Bystanders couldn't get close enough to the car to get him out due to the heat from the massive fire. It just hit a nerve that's all.

[reddrako]

I send my deepest regards to your loss. Losing a friend is always a hard thing to take. My prayers go out to you and your friends family.

[reddrako]

You do make a valid point. Their cars are set up with modified suspensions and a softer compound tire and such. Even with all the mods a police cruiser (and a lot of other cars out there) is set up with we can not negate the fact that natural events like a sudden gust of wind could cause catastrophic loss of controll. But I guess that we cant split hairs. Accidents start getting fatal at 35 mph. Safe as to say that if two cars traveling toward each other at 17.5 mph each and they wreck, someone could die. Isn't it odd how we all think that we are indestructable.......lol.

I do try to be safe and not speed but sometimes it happens and when it does I pray that my guardian angel can keep up with a GT!
I would like to thank you and shibby for your feed back.

Sincerely.........reddrako